As a coding learner, building an online portfolio is one of the most crucial steps you can take to showcase your skills and stand out in the tech world.

If you're serious about landing a developer job, a portfolio allows you to show potential employers what you can do, rather than just telling them.

As I’m also in the process of refining my portfolio to reflect my growth as a coder, I’ll walk you through some key tips and tools that helped me, with links to valuable resources along the way.

Why You Need an Online Portfolio as Beginner?

Having an online portfolio as a coding learner isn't just an option — it's essential. First, it provides a platform to showcase your projects, allowing potential employers and recruiters to see your coding abilities in action.

Instead of simply listing your skills on a resume, you can display actual work, which speaks volumes.

Second, it helps you stand out from the crowd. With so many people applying for jobs, a resume alone may not always make the cut.

A well-crafted portfolio gives you an edge, making it easier for you to get noticed.

One of the Best Way to Showcase Your Portfolio

The most effective way to showcase your coding portfolio is through a personal website. While platforms like GitHub and LinkedIn are essential, a personal site gives you full control over how you present your work. It’s like your online brand.

Personal Website: If you can, create your own website using tools like GitHub Pages, Netlify, or Vercel. These platforms allow you to deploy your portfolio easily for free.

Tip: Make sure it’s clean, easy to navigate, and responsive on all devices.

Here are a few websites I found online that you can check out to see what I mean:

Key Platforms to Include in Your Portfolio

While a personal website is crucial, don’t forget about other platforms that hiring managers will often check. I make sure to update these regularly:

GitHub

GitHub is more than just a code repository. Include your project repositories with detailed README files explaining the project, your approach, and how others can try it out.

Pro Tip: Keep your repositories organized and include a live demo link if possible. Here’s an example of how you can structure your README: GitHub Repo Structure Guide.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is not only for job seekers; it's a great way to display your coding journey, skills, and connect with others in the tech world. You can share your projects as posts, write articles, and even request recommendations from colleagues or mentors.

Pro Tip: Add your portfolio link in your LinkedIn profile summary. Here's a guide to enhancing your LinkedIn profile.

Dev.to or Hashnode

These platforms allow you to write articles about your coding experiences, which can boost your visibility in the developer community. It’s a good way to reflect on what you’ve learned and share insights with others. Dev.to and Hashnode are great places to start.

What to Include in Your Portfolio

When setting up your portfolio, it’s important to be strategic about what you showcase. Here’s what I’ve learned through my own experience:

About Me Section

This is where you tell your story — why you’re learning to code, your motivations, and what you hope to achieve.

Tip: Keep it brief, genuine, and make sure to include a photo.

Skills

Clearly outline your technical skills like programming languages, frameworks, and tools. Make sure to list only the ones you’re comfortable with, and mention that you’re continuously learning.

Tip: Use icons for each tool to make it visually appealing. For example, check out FontAwesome for icons.

Projects

This is the heart of your portfolio. Include at least 3-4 projects, focusing on quality rather than quantity.

What to Include:

  • Live Demo: If possible, host your projects and link to the live versions.
  • GitHub Repository: Include a link to the project’s repository.
  • Description: Explain the project, what you learned, and any challenges you faced.

Here’s an example of a well-documented project from GitHub: Open-Source Project Example.

Contact Information

Make it easy for people to get in touch. A simple form or a clear email address is perfect.

Pro Tip: Include social links like LinkedIn and GitHub here too.

Projects You Can Include as a Learner

Don’t worry if you don’t have a ton of big projects yet. Employers want to see how you think and solve problems.

The big tip here is to make the website in tech stack that you're currently learning like in my case I'd build website in ruby on rails.

Here are some ideas to get started:

  • To-Do List App: It may seem basic, but it shows fundamental skills like DOM manipulation and state management.
  • API Integration Project: For example, a weather app that fetches data from an API.
  • Personal Blog: This is something I’ve done to share my learning process. You can build a blog site using React, Vue, or a static site generator like Jekyll.

Tip: Don’t just focus on the final product. Write about your process, challenges, and solutions. This is what hiring managers love to see.

My Portfolio Journey

When I first started, I was overwhelmed by the idea of building an entire portfolio. What helped me was breaking it down into small steps:

  • Start with a Basic Template: I used a free template from HTML5UP to get started. It saved me time and let me focus on the content rather than design.

  • Keep Updating: Over time, as I learned more, I added new projects and skills. Your portfolio should evolve with you.

  • Be Real: In the beginning, I was hesitant to showcase my basic projects. But I’ve learned that even simple projects can make an impact if they’re presented well.

Tips for Writing About Your Projects
  • What You Built: Start with a brief overview of the project.
  • Tech Stack: Mention the tools and languages you used.
  • Challenges: Talk about any problems you encountered and how you solved them.
  • Lessons Learned: Reflect on what the project taught you, whether it’s a new library, better problem-solving skills, or something else.

At last I'd say remember, you don’t need a complex site or high-level projects to impress employers. Instead, focus on presenting your growth, showing off projects that reflect your learning, and making it personal.

Whether you’re using GitHub Pages, deploying with Netlify, or writing blog posts on Dev.to, the key is to stay consistent and keep learning. As I’ve discovered through my own journey, the effort you put into your portfolio will pay off in time.

That's about it, if you've any question in mind, please ask me. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks

Comments(0)